Cervical collar

Abstract

A cervical collar for circumferential placement around the neck of a wearer in order to form a relatively rigid structure around the neck that is capable of bending circumferentially around the neck for a close fit thereon. A soft base is in confronting relationship to the neck. A splint assembly is fixed to the outer surface of the base and includes a plurality of parallel spaced apart upright splints that are uniformly distributed around the neck when the collar is installed thereon. The splints are separated by an expanse of material which forms a hinge. The hinge permits bending of the collar around the neck while holding the splints in place. Ventilation openings can be located in the spacing between adjacent splints in order to provide ventilation to the neck, facilitate bending of the collar about the neck, and to lessen the weight thereof.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A cervical collar for circumferential placement around the neck of a wearer, comprising: an elongate base of soft flexible material contoured to extend circumferentially around the neck and having an inner surface for confronting engagement with the neck, said base having an upper edge and a lower edge and first and second ends;   releasable fastening means connected to the first and second ends of the base for releasably fastening the base in place around a neck;   a splint assembly fastened to the outer surface of the base opposite the inner surface, to impart rigidity to the collar, said splint assembly including an elongate bendable sheet member secured to the outer surface of the base having an upper edge and a lower edge parallel respectively to the upper edge and lower edge of the base, said sheet member carrying a plurality of upright, relatively rigid splints, said splints comprised as parallel, substantially equally spaced apart elongate members that are upright when the base is installed on the neck, said sheet member and splints being integrally formed of relatively rigid foam plastic, each splint having a height corresponding generally to the distance between the upper and lower edges of the sheet member, adjacent splints being circumferentially separated by a short expanse of sheet member forming a hinge and permitting relative bending movement between adjacent splints as needed to conform to the neck contour, said splints having a width less than the height and greater than the distance between adjacent splints and being uniformly distributed along the length of the sheet member so as to impart uniform rigidity between the upper and lower edges of the sheet member when the collar is installed on the neck of a person.   
     
     
       2. The cervical collar of claim 1 wherein: the upper edge of the base has a concave depression for accommodation of the chin.   
     
     
       3. The cervical collar of claim 2 wherein: said fastening means includes a fastening strap fixed at one end of the base and having a free end with inwardly facing adhering material, and a fastening pad on the other end of the base having outwardly facing adhering material.   
     
     
       4. A cervical collar for circumferential placement around the neck of a wearer, comprising: an elongate base of soft flexible material contoured to extend circumferentially around the neck and having an inner surface for confronting engagement with the neck, said base having an upper edge and a lower edge and first and second ends;   releasable fastening means connected to the first and second ends of the base for releasably fastening the base in place around a neck;   a splint assembly including a plurality of upright, relatively rigid splints secured to the outer surface of the base, and splints secured in parallel, substantially equally spaced apart relationship along the length of the base so as to be uniformly circumferentially distributed around the neck in generally parallel relationship to the neck when the base is placed on a neck, said splints separated by bendable base sections serving as hinge sections to facilitate bending of the base around a neck, each such hinge section having a long and narrow opening parallel to the splints, said opening being of uniform width, said splints having a width less than the height and greater than the width of the openings.   
     
     
       5. The cervical collar of claim 4 including: a plurality of ribs formed on the inner surface of the base for confronting relationship with the neck and aligned with corresponding splints on the outer surface of the base.   
     
     
       6. The cervical collar of claim 4 including: a sheet member secured to the outer surface of the base, said sheet member carrying said splints, said sheet member having hinge sections between adjacent splints, and an elongate opening in each hinge section in alignment with the elongate opening of the base.   
     
     
       7. A cervical collar for circumferential placement around the neck of a wearer, comprising: an elongate base of soft flexible material contoured to extend circumferentially around the neck and having an inner surface for confronting engagement with the neck, said base having an upper edge and a lower edge and first and second ends;   releasably fastening means connected to the first and second ends of the base for releasably fastening the base in place around a neck;   a splint assembly fastened to the outer surface of the base opposite the inner surface, to impart rigidity to the collar, said splint assembly including an elongate sheet member secured to the outer surface of the base having an upper edge and a lower edge parallel respectively to the upper edge and lower edge of the base, said sheet member carrying a plurality of upright, relatively rigid, equally spaced apart splints, said splints comprised as parallel elongate members that are uniformly spaced apart along the length of the base so as to be uniformly circumferentially distributed about the neck in generally parallel relationship to the neck when the base is installed upon a neck, each splint having a height corresponding generally to the distance between the upper and lower edges of the sheet member, adjacent splints being circumferentially separated by an expanse of sheet member that is relatively short compared to the height of the splint forming a hinge and permitting relative bending movement between adjacent splints as needed to conform to the neck contour;   a plurality of elongate openings formed in the sheet member of the splint assembly in the expanse between adjacent splints forming the hinge section, and a corresponding plurality of openings in the base aligned with the openings in the sheet member, said openings being substantially uniform width, said splints having a width less than the height and greater than the width of the openings;   a plurality of ribs formed on the inner surface of the base for confronting relationship with the neck and aligned with and corresponding to the plurality of splints on the sheet member.   
     
     
       8. The cervical collar of claim 7 wherein: the upper edge of the base has a concave depression for accommodation of the chin.   
     
     
       9. The cervical collar of claim 8 wherein: the upper edge of the base has a pair of intermediate dips for accommodation for the lower portion of the jaw.   
     
     
       10. The cervical collar of claim 9 wherein: said fastening means includes a fastening strap fixed at one end of the base and having a free end with inwardly facing adhering material, and a fastening pad on the other end of the base having outwardly facing adhering material.